SIZZLE.
In the entire living room, only the sound of burning joss paper remained. Amidst the swirling flames, the atmosphere was utterly frigid.
Whether it was Song Qiang or the others, they all held their breath, their eyes wide, not daring to make the slightest move.
THUD.
Yu Xiang's foot, which had been suspended in mid-air for so long, finally landed. Taking a deep breath, she quickly pulled Yu Zhen behind her. Her complexion shifted between green and white, completely devoid of her earlier air of superiority, grace, and opulence.
At that moment, Chen Yang's last words echoed ceaselessly in her mindβ
"So proud of yourself? Don't cry when I kill you later."
HUMM!
Suddenly, Yu Xiang staggered back several steps. Her high heel twisted, and she nearly stumbled to the ground.
"This..."
"Mom."
Though Yu Zhen was young, he was not so naive as to be unaware of what was happening. Usually arrogant and conceited, he now trembled, clutching his mother's clothes, not daring to provoke Chen Yang again.
Gritting her teeth against the sharp pain in her ankle, Yu Xiang pulled Yu Zhen into her arms. Her gaze met Chen Yang's, and in that instant, this still-charming dignitary felt a chill run down her spine, nearly biting off her tongue in shock.
She had tried to steal the Zhennan Prince's woman, offered him a blank check, and even invoked the Qi Family's power to intimidate him... this...
Chen Yang's gaze shifted back to Song Qiang. "Hmm?"
It was just a single word, a simple utterance.
Yet it struck Song Qiang like a bolt of lightning; his heart felt as if it would explode in his chest. He instinctively turned, his expression pleading for help from his grandfather, Song Ke.
In his wildest dreams, he couldn't have imagined this man would attend Xue Dalong's funeral. By the looks of it, the words spoken on Chilian Peak's Yun Island weren't a joke or mere words of comfort. He had truly meant to protect the Xue Family. This... this!
In their calculations, they had assumed that even if the promise were real, it would have vanished like smoke when Xue Dalong passed into the underworld.
Besides, why would such a monumental figure personally visit the Xue Family?
Was it just because of that vow?
For these refined egoists, it was always out with the old, in with the new. A person's death was like a lamp being extinguished.
How could they possibly comprehend such loyalty and righteousness?
As a result, everyone present was completely bewildered. The Xue Family, on the verge of collapse and ripe for their humiliation, had suddenly revealed such a powerful backer.
Even the members of the Xue Family were stunned.
After Xue Dalong returned home from Chilian Peak, he hadn't revealed the slightest hint of his connection to Chen Yang.
Therefore, the shock of this scene was no less profound for them than it was for the others.
"My... my Xue Family... we're saved this time!" Xue Gang, Xue Xinlan's father, who was leaning against the wall, was the first to snap out of his daze, sobbing with joy.
The other Xue Family members nodded, tears streaming down their faces. Their earlier suffocation and rage were now replaced by an equal measure of relief and ecstasy.
"Today, we'll give Grandfather a grand send-off!" Xue Gang said through clenched teeth, his fists balled tightly, his gaze firm.
"That's right! I'd like to see who else dares to cause trouble now!"
"The Xue Family has always been upright and law-abiding. Finally, Providence is on our side."
In that short time, every member of the Xue Family stood a little taller. Several of the younger generation even stepped forward and knelt by the brazier, burning joss paper alongside Chen Yang.
Song Ke, who had been so confident moments ago, stood frozen, not daring to move.
He desperately wanted to challenge the man, even to accuse him of impersonating the Zhennan Prince.
But...
The overwhelming aura emanating from Chen Yang was simply astonishing. In his decades of life, he had met countless outstanding individuals, but he had never encountered someone with such a regal and commanding presence.
Seeing his ever-supportive grandfather rendered speechless, Song Qiang began to tremble, his breathing labored. He ground his teeth so hard he thought they would shatter.
What had he said earlier? He wouldn't dare repeat it now, not even if he had a hundred times the courage.
"You're absolutely right, my Lord!" Song Qiang wiped the cold sweat from his brow as he scrambled to change his tune. "Elder Xue Dalong was a man of iron will and unwavering integrity. It is only right that his peers and juniors come to pay their respects and offer three sticks of incense."
Seeing that Chen Yang remained silent, Song Qiang quickly moved forward.
"Elder Xue, rest assured! From this day forward in Cangyun City, as long as my Zheng Family stands, no one will dare to harm the Xue Family!"
A portly, middle-aged man with aviator sunglasses perched on his forehead immediately chimed in. After stating his position, he urged those around him to kneel and offer incense to Xue Dalong.
There wasn't a single fool in the crowd; one by one, they all began to act.
"Everyone, line up behind me. One at a time, maintain order," Song Qiang said, sneaking a glance at Chen Yang. Seeing no sign of objection, he let out a huge sigh of relief and began directing the crowd.
With that, Song Qiang respectfully prepared to bow.
However, just as he bent over, he saw fresh blood dripping on the ground.
DRIP. DROP. DRIP. DROP.
It began slowly, but in an instant, it became a gushing stream.
Hmm? Puzzled, Song Qiang glanced down at himself.
He saw cracks spreading out from his chest in all directions. Blood was pouring from these fissures.
This...
At his side, Song Ke's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. An icy chill surged up from his feet. When his grandson, who was on the verge of disintegrating, turned toward him in horror, the prominent figure immediately looked away, pretending to see nothing.
PSST!
Puffs of blood mist erupted from Song Qiang's body.
The sight was utterly horrifying. Those lining up behind him were splattered with blood, their pupils constricting in terror, their souls shaken.
Song Qiang tried to scream, but no sound came out. Like a clay bodhisattva in water, he simply dissolved.
"Are you all naive, or do you take me for a fool?"
After burning the last of the joss paper, Chen Yang rose leisurely to his feet. With his hands clasped behind his back, he casually glanced at the middle-aged man in aviator sunglasses and spoke in a flat tone.
The man, whose name was Zheng Kang, trembled from head to toe.
SPLAT!
Song Qiang, who had been wailing on the ground moments before, exploded right in front of him, leaving behind nothing but a fine mist of blood.
The blood sprayed out like flowers scattered by a goddess, splashing across everyone's faces.
The warmth of the blood and its metallic tang assaulted their nostrils.
Everyone gasped, their bodies trembling like leaves.
THUD!
Zheng Kang collapsed to the ground. "S-Sorry! I'm sorry! I'll kowtow to you!"
The others didn't dare hesitate, immediately dropping to their knees.
Song Ke's eyes blazed with fury, his voice raw with grief. "Qiangzi!" He snapped his head up, glaring at Chen Yang with venomous hatred.
Chen Yang gently raised his right hand.
SMACK!
Song Ke was sent flying several meters, his body crashing into a wall. Bones shattered on impact, and a grotesque flower bloomed across the once-pristine white wall.
"Yu Xiang of the Yu Family of Cangyun City pays her respects to you, my Lord!"
With legs that felt as heavy as lead, Yu Xiang struggled into the main hall and knelt respectfully. Her voice was filled with reverence, all traces of her previous arrogance gone.
Yu Zhen stood proudly at her side. He only knelt reluctantly after Yu Xiang tugged forcefully on his clothes.
...